The problem:
Hidden value and ill-defined targets are the two fundamental problems we encounter when deploying our yield analytics tools for primary sector clients.
Firstly, actual yield performance is not accurately calculated due to discrepancies in data sets, or a lack of data at key points in the process. Where yield is a fundamental driver of profitability this needs addressing rapidly.
Secondly, even where accurate yield performance is known, how this yield performance compares to a realistic target is often not. With natural products and their variation through seasons, geographies and other parameters it is not suitable to apply a static target to performance of processes. A realistic target must be dynamic to reflect the origin of the natural raw material. With static targets the real opportunities for yield improvement lie hidden because the complexities of primary production often distort the real drivers of productivity.
If teams don’t trust or believe in the targets, they are inclined to ignore them. The result being demotivated teams, with few ideas to deliver continuous or step change process improvement.
What our clients say
“Harnessing the power of data analytics is going to change the business and focus people on the real opportunities. We are now delivering meaningful insights to our people, enabling them to take the necessary interventions.”
Mark Leslie_General Manager of Operations_Silver Fern Farms
The solution:
We understand yield and we understand data
Hidden within existing data, yield performance can often be understood, without the need for costly investment in hardware, or process changes to collect extra information. The Yielded tool, through predictive analytical techniques, can accurately estimate process performance, comparing this against optimum possible performance given the parameters of the raw materials.
Using historical yield data, in combination with data sets for soils, feed, environment, weather, species and many others, we can predict with great accuracy the expected yield performance of a process, department or product. Instead of setting unrealistic static targets, our primary processing partners have accurate, achievable, and real-time yield objectives reflective of the raw material that actually arrives at the plant.
This real time feedback and insight allows organisations to respond proactively and implement the necessary interventions as they are needed, instead of trying to chase the problem with a solution that is too late or ineffective.
The details:
The raw material that arrives at your plant varies naturally from a combination of factors. The feed, soils, weather, seasons, geography and species (to name just a few) influence the raw material, which ultimately affects the yields you can achieve. By combining data sets that map these various inputs and applying the latest machine learning techniques, we understand the varying influence of these external inputs through the season, giving real time and realistically achievable yield targets.
This data-driven approach removes the noise and excuses that originate from relying on static, inflexible yield targets. This means that from your raw material purchasing plan, we can determine with great accuracy achievable real-time targets for production teams, alongside actual yield performance. We then work with you to deliver interventions that make the biggest impact on improving yield and, in real time, assess the effectiveness of each intervention using the latest visualisation technologies.
We know that technology is simply the enabler, so we don’t stop there. Our processes are people driven, so we work with people to improve results. Alongside the predictive insights, we develop an intervention plan where we walk the walk on site; coaching teams and leaders on how to make use of the new insights they are presented with, helping them to understand what drives their performance and equipping them with the tools to make sustainable process improvement. This also gives us a rare opportunity to get first-hand feedback on the insights we provide, meaning we can adjust where necessary to optimise the solution.
We work with businesses that transform natural products as a raw material. This includes dairy & protein processing, timber and sawmills; and farmers of vegetables, salads, cereals and fruits.
We typically start with a pilot area, with the ability to develop data sets to prove the concept in less than a month. We apply interventions in this area to prove the value on offer and then look to plan a wider roll out to more departments/products. We aren’t an ‘in-and-out’ company, we work to ensure the teams at our clients’ plants become experts in their own data so they can drive sustainable change.
If yield drives your profitability and you need to understand it better. Get in touch.